The Nigerian military has identified several senior ISWAP/ISIS terrorist commanders operating around the Lake Chad Basin following a major intelligence breakthrough by troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Military Information Officer of OPHK, Captain Mohammed Goni, the breakthrough followed recent successful offensive operations against ISWAP fighters in the Lake Chad region of northern Borno State.
According to the military, troops recovered technical devices and other high-value intelligence materials during the operations, including a camcorder used by ISWAP terrorists to record propaganda videos and document their activities.
The statement said forensic exploitation of the recovered devices produced actionable intelligence that led to the identification of terrorist hideouts and the identities of several senior ISWAP leaders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis along the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Among those identified are Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, described as the Wali (Governor) of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP); his deputy and Amirul Jaish, Muhammad Jidda, also known as “The One-Handed Man”; and Hamad Abu Hanifa, identified as the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP.
Operation HADIN KAI described Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa as the most wanted terrorist leader currently operating within the Lake Chad Basin.
The military announced that a substantial financial reward would be offered to anyone whose credible and actionable information leads directly to his arrest. It assured that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality and that the identities of informants would be fully protected in line with established security procedures.
Operation HADIN KAI urged members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism efforts by providing credible and timely information through established security reporting channels or by calling 0708 498 8859.
The military, however, cautioned citizens against confronting or attempting to apprehend any of the suspected terrorists, advising them instead to promptly report any useful information to security agencies.